Means for lubricating a deep well pump



2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor Auomgy Jan. 19, 1937. ,1. M. HAIT MEANS FOR LUBRICATING A DEEP WELL PUMP Filed April 29, 1955 a H. 7 m a 0 J 4 f av W N w w WW u. m mm\m\ 1 mm m .2 -illli- 3 5 |u 2 Z. x H. V r m i l m -n 2 a 1 31 fl w z N M in w J. M. HAIT MEANS FOR LUBRICATING A DEEP WELL PUMP .Jan. 19, 1937.-

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1955 By /z Patented Jan. 19, 1937* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MEAN$ Fon nonnrcariiwc a near wen. rum

James M. Halt, Los Angeles,

Food Machinery Corporation,

Dela-ware Calif, assignor to a corporation of Application April 29 1935, Serial No. 18,821.

11 Claims.

in myco-pending application Serial No. 743,562, "whereiif the lubricant employed in lubricating the line shaft bearings of a pump of this type is so controlled that it does not enter either the well water or the water being pumped whereby contamination of, the water is eliminated. I

The present invention ti ve the 15 class described wherein the lubricant mayv be delivered into the line shaft enclosing tubing by the so-called drip method and is withdrawn or carried from the enclosing tubing and is raised has as a general objecto the surface of the ground from time to timebefore it has an opportunity to reach the water being pumped or the water. of the well.

It is one object of this invention to produce a device 'of the class described wherein a lubricant retaining chamber, or adubricant accumulating reservoir, is formed in the bottom portion of the enclosing tubing itself and is associated with means whereby a pressure fluid can be delivered into such reservoir, thereby forcing the lubricant which has accumulated therein to the surface of the ground. I

It is a feature of one preferred form of my invention, that the lubricant retaining reservoir is divided by an upwardly extending partition so as to form a lubricant separating chamber 3 which communicates with the lower end portion of the shaft enclosing tubing at the lower end of the separating chamber. In this 'form of my invention the pressure fluid is delivered into the separating chamber and the return pipe is con- 40 nected to the upper end thereof.

provide an improved form of discharge manifold adapted to connect the bowl assembly with the delivery pipe, such manifold'having connections I therein whereby a pressure fiuidline and a.

lubricant return line can be connected into the bottom portion of the lubricant retaining chamber.

It is a further object of invention to 50 produce a lubricant. return system of the class described which is of simple form and construction and may be easily and economically in-- stalled upon standard types of deep'well turbine provements of the general character disclosed provision of a lubricating system of'the It is a further object of this invention to .pumps. I /'I'he details in,the construction of certain preferred forms of my invention, together with otherobjects attending its production, will be best understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings, which arelchosen I for illustrative purposes only, and in which 6 resented by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan section taken in a plane represented by the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

-Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevation similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation illustrating the 2 details in the construction of another modifiedform of my invention; and

Fig. '7 is a sectional elevation illustrating still another manner .in which the invention may be modified. 1 25 Referring now to Figs 1 to 4, inclusive of the drawings, numeral I I indicates adischarge fitting which is shown as supporting a motor drive l2 and as having a surface discharge pipe l3 which is-quipped with a valve 14. The discharge flttings 12 supports a delivery pipe it which extends downwardly into the well H and carries a bowl assembly!!! at'its lowerend, such bowl assembly being connected to the delivery pipe it through ,the medium of a bowl discharge manifold IS. The bowl assembly may be of any conventional construction having impellers (not shown) which are driven by a line shaft 2|, such line shaftextending through a. top bearing 1 2 7 in the manifold) and a shaft "enclosing tubing 40 23 which contains line shaft bearings 24, the upper-end of the line shaft extending through a suitable fitting 25 and into the driving mechanism I! where it is secured to a rotor element.

During theoperation of the pump, lubricant is'delivered into the fitting 25from any. suitable source,,such as a conventional drip valve, not shown, through a lubricant supply pipe 30. This lubricant flows downwardly within the enclosing tubing 23, lubricating the various line shaft bearingsfl, until it finally reaches the lower end portion of the tubing 23. The manifold I9 is shown as being providedwith-by-pass ports 3| which communicate with the water of the well "outside of the pumping mechanism. In this way any leakage which takes'place through the bearings 24, and which is under the pump pressure, is not delivered into the shaft enclosing tubing but is delivered into the well, so that the 5 static head in the shaft enclosing tubing is the same as the, static head in the well.

Through this arrangement it will'be seen that as the oil accumulates in the tubing 23 it will eventually reach' a height where the column of 10 oil counter-balances the column of water surrounding the pump assembly or, in other words, the accumulated oil counter-balances the static head of the well. When thispoint is reached the shaft enclosing tubing, to the surface of the ground from time to time and thereby prevent 25 the bottom of the column of oil reaching a point where it can be carried out into the well. In

this form of my invention I accomplish this by providing the shaft enclosing tubing with a series of ports 33 which are situated at a suitable distance above the by-pass ports 3| or above the lower end portion of the shaft enclosing tubing, these ports being in communication with what I may term a separating chamber 35 which is formed by surrounding the shaft enclosing tub- 35 ing with a shell, such shell being secured at its ends 36 and 36'. to the shaft enclosing tubing.

so as to form an enclosed chamber which extends a substantial distance above the ports 33.

For the purpose of intermittently purging this chamber of its contents of lubricant I provide what may be termed a lubricant return pipe 38 which connects into the top portion of the chamber 35, such pipe being effective to return the lubricant from the chamber to the surface of 4 the ground when pressure is applied to the interior of the chamber. For the purpose of applying the pressure to the interior. of the chamber in this form of my invention, I employ. what I I have termed a pressure pipe 39, such pipe being 50 shown as extending through the top portion 36 of the chamber 35 and having its lower end situated near the bottom portion thereof. The upper end of -this pipe 39 is shown as being connected through .a valve 40 with the surface 55 discharge pipe l3. When it is desired to purge the chamber it is only necessary to open the valve 40 and, if 'additional pressure is desired, the valve l4 may be partially closed so as to effect a quick and eflicient purging operation.

r In the form of 'my invention shown in Fig. '5, the lower end of the shaft enclosing tubing 23a is shown as being enlarged or provided with. an enlarged portionr 45 which constitutes the oil 65 accumulating chamber or reservoir at the bottom I 7 lower end of the enlargement 45 is secured.

It will also be observed that the manifold Isa isprovided with a. by-pass port 3hr. In this form of my invention it" will further be observed that the manifold Isa is provided with a pres- 75 sure pipe inlet connection 41 and an oil return pipe outlet connection 48, the connection 41 being in communication with the pressure pipe 38a and theconnection 48 being in communication with the lubricant return pipe 38a. It is preferable that the lubricant return pipe have its 5 inlet in the upper portion of the accumulating chamber or reservoir 45 and, in order to obtain this, I show the inner end of the connectidn as being connected to .a vertically extending pipe 50; which has its open upper end situated near the upper end portion of the accumulating reservoir 45.

'In the form of .my invention shown in Fig. 6 I propose to, use the shaft enclosing tubing itself as the conduit through which the lubricant is returned to the surface of the ground. In this form of my invention those parts which correspond to the elements previously described in connection with Figs. 1 and 5 are indicated by .the same reference numerals distinguished by the letter b. The manifold I917, having a bypass outlet 3lb, is similar in its general construction to the manifold ISQ except that it-has only one connection 41b whereby the pressure fluid is delivered into the accumulating reservoir 45?). In order to permit a rapid return of liquid from the accumulating reservoir 45b to the surface of the ground through the shaft enclosing tubing 23, it is necessary to provide the line shaft bearings 241) with passages or channels 50' which will afford a passage through each line shaft bearing of substantially the same cross sectional areas as the stream which enters the reservoir through the pressure pipe 41b. Lubricant is adapted to be delivered into the upper end of the enclosing tubing through the fitting 25b by means of a feed conduit 30b. The liquid which is carried upwardly through the enclosing tubing-33b by,the application of pressure within the retaining chamber 45b is discharged through a lubricant discharge pipe 5lb preferably situated at the surface of the ground.

In the form of my invention shownin Fig. 7, I show the lubricant retaining reservoir 450 as being formed in the lower portion of the shaft enclosing tubing 23c. This reservoir 450 is shown as being situated between two line shaft bearings 24c and 24c and the discharge manifold 190 is shown as having a vertically extending projection 52 which receives. the line shaft bearing 24c to which the lower end of the tubing 230 is in threaded engagement. For the purpose of purging the chamber which is formed in the lower end of the tubing 230, I provide a pressure line 390, which is connected into the tubing at the 55 bottom portion of the chamber 450, and a lubricant return line 38c which isconnected into the line shaft enclosing tubing near the upper end portion of the reservoir 450. In this form of my invention, like those shown in Figs. 2 and c0 5, the-"clearance between the line shaft and the line shaft bearings is so small, as compared with the passage through the lubricant return pipe, that the application of excessive pressure to the "interior of 'the lubricant retaining reservoir is 5 effective to force the contents of the reservoir upwardly to the surface of theground through the return pipe without materially changing the level of the liquid in the enclosing tubing above the line shaft bearing which is situated at the top of tjie retaining reservoir. In other words.

' my invention contemplates the use of materially increased pressure to purge the chamber, and in these particular forms 'of the invention the line shaftbearings prevent'the level of liquid in the 7 shaft enclosing tubing: means for cumulating 1. In. combination with a vertical well pump :from said enclosing having a bowl assembly, a line shaft, and ashaft enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant into the top of said enclosing tubing; a lubricant retaining chamber situated at the bottom portion of said enclosing tubing and in open communication therewith for accumulating a substantially static body of lubricant therein, and conduit means separate from said enclosing tubing for delivering'pressure fluid into the bottom portion of said retaining chamber to force lubricant contained therein to the surface of the ground. v

'2. In'combination with a vertical well pump having a bowl assembly, a line shaft, and-a shaft enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant into the top of said enclosing tubing; a lubricant retaining chamber in the bottom portion of said enclosing tubing for accumulating. a substantially static body of lubricant therein, and means separate from said enclosing tubing. for delivering pressure fluid into the bottom portion of said enclosing tubing to force lubricant contained therein upwardly through said enclosing tubing to the surface of the ground.

3. In combination with a vertical well pump having .a bowl assembly, a line shaft, a shaft enclosing tubing and spaced line shaft bearings in said enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant into the top of said enclosing tubing; a lubricant retaining chamberin the bottom portion of said enclosing ing a substantially static body of lubricant therein; and means separate from said enclosing v tubing for applying fluid pressure :within the bottom portion of said enclosing tubing to force the liquid therein upwardly through said enclosing tubing to thesurface of the ground, said line shaft bearings having passages therethrough to permit the said return flow of said lubricant.

4. In combination with a vertical well pump having a bowl assembly, a line shaft, and a delivering lubricant into thev top of said enclosing tubing; means comprising an enlarged chamber for aca substantially static body of lubricant in the bottom portion of said enclosing tubing during the operation of said line shaft; and conduit means separate from said enclosing tubing for delivering pressure fluid into the bottom portion of said enclosing tubing to force lubricant contained therein to the surface of the grou Y 5. In combination with a vertical well pump having a bowl assembly, a line shaft, anda shaft enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant into the top of said enclosing tubing; a lubricant retaining chamber in the bottom portion of said enclosing tubing for accumulating a. substantially static body of lubricant from, said enclosing tubing during the operation of said line shaft; a lubricant return conduit having an the said retaining chamber to force lubricant having a bowl assembly,

tubing for accumulatpump having a contained therein through said return conduit to the-surface of the ground.

6. In combination with a vertical well pump a line shaft and a shaft enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant into the top of said enclosing tubing; a lubricant retaining chamber of greater cross-sectional area than said enclosingtubing situated in the bottom portion of said enclosing tubing for accumulating a substantially static body of lubricant tubing during the operation of said line shaft; a lubricant return conduit having an inlet opening in the top of said re-' taining chamber; andmeans operable independently of said enclosing tubing for delivering a pressure fluid into the bottom portion of said retaining chamber to force lubricant contained therein through said return conduit to the surface of the ground.

7. In combination with a-vertical well pump having a bowl assembly, a line shaft, and a shaft enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant into the top of said enclosing tubing; a lubriicant retaining chamber situated at the bottom portion of said enclosing tubing; a lubricant return conduit having an inlet opening in the top of saidretaining chamber; and means for delivering a pressure fluid into the bottom portion of said retaining chamber to force lubricant contained therein through said return conduit to the surface of the ground, said shaft enclosing tubing extending downwardly through said retaining chamber and having a wall port cornmunicating with the bottom portion of said retaining chamber.

8. In combination with a vertical well pump having a. bowl assembly, a line shaft, and a shaft enclosing tubing: means bricant into the top of said enclosing tubing;

a lubricant retaining chamber of greater cross sectional area than said enclosing tubing situated at the bottom portion of said enclosing tubing; a lubricant return conduit having an inlet opening in the top of said retaining chamber;

and means for delivering .a pressure fluid into said retaining chamber to force lubricant contained therein through said return conduit to the surface of the ground, said shaft enclosing tubing extending downwardly through said retaining chamber and having a wall port communicating with the bottom portion of said retaining chamber.

9. In combination with a vertical well purring.

having a bowl assembly, a line shaft, and *a shaft enclosing tubing: means for delivering lubricant into the top portion of said enclosing tubing; a shell mounted on the bottom portion of said enclosing tubing and forming an annular lubricant retaining chamber surroundin said tubing, said tubing having a port therein communicating with the bottom portion of said retaining chamber; a return pipe communicating with the top portion of said retaining chamber;

for delivering luand conduit means for delivering pressure fluid into said retaining chamber to force liquid from said chamber through said return pipe.

10. In combination with a, vertical well turbine bowl assembly, a delivery pipe, a line shaft and a shaft enclosing tubing; a discharge manifold interposed between said bowl assembly and'said delivery pipe; a lubricant retaining chamber formed in the bottom of said tubing above said discharge manifold; an oil return conduit comprising a pipe extending downwardly outside of said delivery pipe, a connection extending through the wall of said disoil return conduit comprising a pipe extending downwardly outside of said delivery pipe, a connection extending through the wall of said discharge manifold into said retaining chamber, and a vertical leg on the inner end of said last named connection having an inlet opening in the top portion of said retaining chamber; and means for applying fluid pressure in said retaining chamber, said last mentioned means comprising a second connection extending through said manifold and opening'into said chamber and a pressure pipe communicating with the outer end of saidsecond connection.

' JAMES M. HAIT. 

